INTERVIEW WITH MUSICIAN/WORSHIP LEADER KATHLEEN HOWELL

 

Becky and I lived in Nashville, Tennessee for a half dozen years. Would you be surprised to learn that I got acquainted with several Christian musicians while I resided there? Those who know me would be surprised if I didn't actively search out Christian musicians. 

One place I hung out was at a couple of monthly Christian open mike nights at Koininia Bookstore (part of Belmont Church). This is where I was introduced to Kathleen Howell.

JR: I'd like start by asking how you came to Christ and how you became interested in music.

KH: I got saved in treatment for an eating disorder when I was 19. I didn't know anything. I mean, I was raised in church, so I knew to give my life to Jesus, and that He was God, but I had hardly read my Bible at all. I needed discipleship, but unfortunately, that was hard to find. So I languished with some wrong believing that kept me in fear for many years after.

I sang in public for the first time at 3, with my Dad accompanying me on guitar. I barely remember it, but I know I sang "Sing a Song" and my Mom said they could hardly pry the microphone out of my hands! Later, by the age of 13, I had determined to make music my career. 

JR: I first met you and became familiar with your music while we both were in Nashville, Tennessee; you and your family are now in Asheville, North Carolina. In regards to spiritual life and to music, what's the difference between the two cities, besides a missing letter? (I love driving down the I-75 into Knoxville, and seeing the sign: I-40W - Nashville; I-40E - Asheville.)

KH: Well, for one thing, it's more expensive to live in Asheville I think! There’s just as much construction here as I remember when I lived in Nashville but Asheville is growing faster than the new roads are. Seriously though, Nashville is full of wanna be stars. Asheville, not so much! There is a music presence here, but it's mainly bluegrass. Not sure of the political differences. Asheville is very left leaning, but it seems country music has become way more politically correct than it was in the nineties..

JR: You also are a worship leader. How do you prepare for leading a worship service? How does that resemble and differ selecting songs when you're doing a concert?

KH: How do I prepare for worship? Personal intimacy with God for sure and sometimes asking Him about songs, but honestly, more just planning what I'd like and The Holy Spirit works it out. I mean really! I can't tell you how many times He has had me do songs that fit so well without me knowing anything beforehand. 

I don't get to do concerts much anymore, but worship is certainly different. It's one of the reasons that I, as a rule, where I might have a lost person play with me in a concert, I usually don't in worship. There's a personal sense of God's presence one needs to have; a sensitivity to the Spirit. I want excellence in playing, but not perfectionism. In worship, I'd rather miss a chord or word than miss what God is doing. 

JR: If I remember correctly, your daughters are also musicians. What is it like having a daughter interested in music? How have you influenced them, and what have you learned from them?

KH: At the present time, I have two singing daughters. My youngest is only interested in that as far as a hobby, though she has led worship. My oldest is more interested in performance. I've performed and led worship with both daughters and that is a beautiful experience, let me tell you! 

Hopefully the most influence I have had, in the last ten years, has been spiritually. I had to relearn the Gospel and what it means to truly know Jesus, so I was pretty immature when my oldest was coming up. Fortunately, by the time my youngest was aware, I think she was better able to benefit from what God was doing in my life. What have I learned from them? A ton! They have called me on my inconsistencies- not fun! They have revealed the selfishness I grew up in-(I was an only child, so I never had to share!) They have helped me see how God must feel when we struggle, as His kids- like your heart is walking around outside yourself! 

JR: Your FB profile mentions you also have a teaching ministry. What's that like? 

KH: I was enormously impacted about 12 years ago by teaching that helped me understand what the Gospel really means and how one in Christ can actually be transformed in Christ. I had no solid identity before that. I was a people pleasing, stressed out Christian. I was saved, but not at peace. The enemy regularly taunted me and I had no idea how to stop him. So God changed all that when I discovered grace. I now share through teaching at my church and on You Tube, writing (I just finished my first book ) and I'm working with the youth at my church as an interim youth director. 

JR: It was back in '92, I believe, when I first heard you sing. And things 30 years later haven't changed a bit in our society, have they? Oh, they have? How has the change in our culture affected your music, your worship-leading, your teaching, and life in general? 

KH: Has culture changed in 30 years? Yeah, just a little! Asheville has the nickname "San Francisco of the South", so I imagine you can do the math on that. There's also a strong demonic presence here, unfortunately, from much Wiccan practice and freemasonry. The plus side is- the fields are ripe for harvest! 

How has that change affected your music? Not much. I don't reach that many people with my original songs, so I don't have to think much about  offending those listening! I always hope the listener will hear the truth in them and I have to say, when I've sung outside the church, I usually get a positive response from the unsaved. They seem to respect me as a musician first and I kind of then"get away" with sneaking Jesus in on them. I wouldn't say the culture has changed my worship leading.  Obviously, I want to play musically relevant songs from today's sound. I do focus on heart felt lyrics, though I try to make sure it's also doctrinally sound worship. My intimate relationship with Jesus is the biggest influence. My teaching? I've only been teaching about 10 years. I did have one sermon where I mentioned that I only believed in one man, one woman marriage and it has been one of my least popular videos. So there's that. 

I've become more sensitive to those around me, especially in Asheville. I don't want to unnecessarily turn off someone from the Gospel, at least by badly presenting it. Yet, I can't run away from the fact that bottom line is Jesus divides people. 

JR: Thank you for your time. Anything else you want to mention that I forgot to bring up? How can we keep up with your ministries?  

KH: Kathleen M. Howell is my You Tube channel. Wake Me Up is my FB ministry page. To access my original music and to support my writing, videos, an upcoming podcast, blog,etc., I humbly accept monthly (and otherwise) donations to my Patreon page.:

 

INTERVIEW WITH LUKE JONES, WORSHIP LEADER AT CASTLETON COMMUNITY CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS

 

Castleton Community Church

JR: Let's start with the important issues. How did you come to faith in Christ, and when did you get interested in music?

LJ: I came to faith in Christ through going to a summer youth retreat when I was 13. I grew up in a Christian family and knew the gospel from a young age but had not been born again. At the youth retreat, the Holy Spirit convicted me of the way I had been living for myself and showed me that the only path to true life is in Christ alone. It was shortly after that when I began playing guitar. My dad is a musician and so is my brother. I would have them show me things on guitar and I would practice every day after school. I then started helping lead worship for our church youth group and this proved to be a great training ground for me to grow in my abilities and gifts.

JR: Who would you consider influencers in your life both in faith and in music (e.g. author, musicians, family, current and previous pastors)?

LJ: My youth pastor was highly influential in my life. If God had not placed him in my life, I would not be where I am today. He really pursued a relationship with me and discipled me well. My previous pastor at Walnut Grove Chapel, Randy Worland, was another huge influence on my life, particularly with regard to theological matters. He helped me grow in my understanding of God’s sovereignty and a theology/philosophy of worship. Some musical artists that have influenced me are Shane and Shane, Phil Wickham, All Sons and Daughters, Tenth Avenue North, Matt Boswell, Bob Kauflin, and many more.

JR: I know a pastor's week includes sermon prep, visitation, and counseling, as well as other things. What does a worship leader's week look like?

LJ: It’s probably different for every worship leader depending on what their responsibilities include. For me, I am responsible for planning our Sunday morning worship services. I spend a good block of time planning out the songs and different worship elements that go into a Sunday morning service. I lead both the volunteer teams for the worship team and the tech team so this requires a lot of time scheduling and communicating with volunteers. I am over both worship and tech so if any technical issues arise with our audio, video or lighting, that falls on me to figure out. I set the stage each week for the team and make sure I am prepared to lead the team through rehearsal on Thursday nights. I also plan out our prayer and praise nights which happen once a month. These are times for the congregation to gather for prayer and singing. Outside of the music sphere of ministry, I also oversee our Global Outreach, Prayer, Facilities, and IT at the church. So when I’m not doing something worship arts related, there is no shortage of things for me to do : )

JR: What do you consider when selecting songs for worship on Sundays?

LJ: Colossians 3:16 tells us to “Let the message of Christ dwell in us richly, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…” The gospel of Jesus dwells in us richly when we sing various types of songs together in the church. So first and foremost, I want to make sure we are singing songs that are full of gospel truth. That does not mean every song needs to have lyrics about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. But I would hope that at some point during a Sunday, we sing about those things. We need the gospel every day, it is not the starting point of our faith, it is the main point that we need daily! Some other things I think about when selecting songs is singing songs that are more God-centered than man-centered. We want the balance to be singing more about who God is and what He has done rather than what we are going to do for God. Another thing I think about is trying to sing a variety of both hymns and contemporary. We value singing songs from the Church throughout the ages, this communicates that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

JR: In interviews, I often ask how the interviewee is doing in a time when things look like they can be difficult for Christians. But allow me to take a different angle. The coming storm is a motivation for Christians to unify and encourage one another. Yet one of the issues that often causes division in a local church is music. How can the music ministry contribute to building unity in the church?

LJ: Church music can often be divisive in church, this is sad reality. But at the same time, it has the potential to be one of the most unifying things that a congregation does! When we sing together, we are confessing together what we believe to be true. Hearing the congregation’s one voice lifted up, proclaiming the truth of the gospel and professing our love and devotion to God, is something that draws our hearts together as one. No matter what is going on in our lives or in the world around us, we can unite around the core truths we are singing together and find encouragement.

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